The demand for the lightweight metal lithium is expected to surge over the next decade, as lithium-ion batteries become standard in plug-in vehicles.
Bolivia is believed to have 50% of the world's lithium deposits at about 5.4 million tons. The country is governed by leftist Evo Morales, who has nationalized energy, mining and telecommunications companies in recent years.
"Some far-sighted companies are already attempting to secure the rights to mine lithium in Bolivia's Uyuni salt flats," said Carl Firman, an analyst at Virtual Metals, adding that the metal is mined as a by-product in clays, brines, salts or hard rock.
"This will be fraught by political complexities, as Bolivia will not simply allow its lithium to be mined and exported elsewhere for downstream processing and fabrication," he added.
Read the full Reuters report at the link below.
